Dear Friends,

Though the calendar says spring doesn't officially arrive until tomorrow, the energy of renewal is already in the air! Spring is a season of emergence—a time when quiet persistence finally breaks through the surface. Looking around our region, the signs are everywhere. After a winter of deep planning and a fast-paced legislative session, the civic actions and community events we and others have worked toward are finally taking shape. I am so excited to move into this season with you as we find time to reflect, rest, and simply be in community.

This convergence of seasons is especially meaningful this year. Tomorrow, our Muslim siblings celebrate Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Eid Mubarak! We celebrate with you and honor your month of devotion. Looking ahead to next week, our Christian siblings will observe Palm Sunday on March 29, beginning a Holy Week that partially overlaps this year with the Jewish festival of Passover. It is a rare and wonderful window of shared reflection across many of our traditions.

Amidst these sacred days, I want to extend a special invitation to our virtual end-of-session celebration. Because of your advocacy, we passed bills that protect immigrant rights, expand affordable housing, and move us toward a fairer tax code. These are more than just "wins"—they are direct improvements to the lives of our neighbors, like the low-income energy assistance program, which we established this session. Please join us on March 25 from 6–8 PM on Zoom to celebrate these achievements. Register to join here.

Even though the legislative session has ended, we know that the work of justice is a year-round calling. See below for several ways you can take action this month—from local volunteer opportunities to public witness—as we continue our work for the common good.

In community and solidarity,

Brianna Dilts

FAN Eastern Washington Regional Organizer

FAN is excited to be a co-sponsor of the 2026 Peace & Justice Action Conference on Saturday, March 21, from 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM in Spokane (location will be shared after registration).

The 2026 Peace & Justice Action Conference: From Survival to Vision—Crafting the Future We Deserve invites us to move beyond reaction and into response.

Grounded in real-world struggle and guided by imagination, we will explore how care, creativity, strategy, and solidarity can shape futures rooted in dignity, justice, and collective well-being. Together, we will strengthen our analysis, sharpen our tools, and deepen our relationships, not just to survive what is, but to craft what should be. The conference will feature 18 workshops in 4 themed tracks, and Keynote Speaker, Aaron Dixon, Former Seattle Black Panther Party Captain & Co-Founder, and author of My People Are Rising.

As a co-sponsor, FAN members can register at the member-discounted rate of $50 . We hope to see you at this powerful event! Register here.

On Saturday, March 28, people from across the country will rally for No Kings III to continue pro-democracy mass mobilizations and proclaim that our power is of the people, by the people, and for the people. 

At FAN, we know that people of faith and conscience play a critical role in protecting our democracy and confronting authoritarianism. At a time when the federal government is violating the civil and human rights of our neighbors and using white Christian nationalism to justify its actions, our multi-faith, non-partisan presence provides a counter-narrative and a moral vision for how we live as a country and take care of one another. As we celebrate the unique voices of our spiritual traditions, we demonstrate that our diversity is sacred and that pluralism is a core part of our democracy.

Let’s intentionally and visibly bring our multi-faith gifts to the table on March 28, at B.A. Clark Park, 3922 N Normandie Street, from 1 to 4:30 pm. If you'd like to join FAN, email dilts@fanwa.org.

If you're not in Spokane, there are also No Kings events happening in Pullman, Newport, and more!

We encourage you to:

• Wear a shirt or hold a banner that highlights your faith community name or FAN
• Make signs that pair a quote from your sacred text/teachings with a pro-democracy message – use this No Kings messaging guide from Interfaith Alliance to spark your imagination.
• If you are a faith leader, wear your traditional vestments or garments  

You can find more resources to prepare for No Kings III below

• Interfaith Alliance’s No Kings III Training
• Interfaith Alliance resource page for No Kings III
• ICE OUT, SING IN Resistance Song Book
• Free Palm Sunday Protest posters from Illustrated Ministry

We have been a part of planning this ecumenical Good Friday gathering for reflection and public witness with a number of Spokane churches. All are welcome to attend, though this event will be focused on the Christian holy day Good Friday, and Christian texts. 

The first followers of Jesus refused to ignore Christ's suffering. We see Christ in our immigrant neighbors. We will not ignore their suffering now. Together, we will walk a Stations of the Cross Journey to places in Spokane where violence and injustice are occurring and as we consider our response to it.

The procession will begin at Salem Lutheran Church, 1428 W Broadway Avenue, at 4 pm, and we will walk through some stations of the cross, concluding with a time of lament, prayer, and witness near the Rotary Fountain in Riverfront Park at 5 pm. Join us on April 3 from 4 -6 pm - learn more and rsvp here. Rsvp'ing is not required but is encouraged so we can prepare adequate crowd management strategies.

Much of our time together this session has been focused on action and advocacy. Here are two opportunities we hope can be good connections for people of faith and conscience to join some existing efforts and deepen local relationships while doing an activity that benefits our community!

• Earth Day River Clean Up, April 18, 10am to 1pm, High Bridge Park, 212 South A Street, Spokane, WA, 99224. Spokane River Keeper is hosting their annual Earth Day River Clean Up. We would like to get together an interfaith group to support this event and help clean up our beautiful river! Email dilts@fanwa.org if you're interested in joining the group.
  
  
• Habitat for Humanity Faith Build, Saturdays, April 25 and May 16. Our friends at Habitat for Humanity Spokane are hosting a volunteer day for faith communities. Swing a hammer, raise a wall, and lift up families – side by side with churches, congregations, and neighbors of all faiths. Together, we’ll help local families achieve strength, stability, and self-reliance through safe, affordable housing. No experience necessary! If you are interested in joining, rsvp at https://habitat-spokane.org/faith-in-action/

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